Spring coiling method and means



March 15, 1932. j V BURD 1,849,705

SPRING COILING METHOD AND MEANS Filed Jan. 10, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet lilifg. .4 v 20 7' IN VEN TOR.

March 15, 1932. G. c. BURD SPRING COILING METHOD AND MEANS Filed Jan.10, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 15, 1932.

G. C. BURD SPRING COILING METHOD AND MEANS Filed Jan. 10 1930 3Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GOBMAN G.BUBD, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR '10 AITERICAN CABLE COM- PANY, INC01 NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SPRING COILING METHOD ANDMEANS Application filed January 10, 1930. Serial No. 419,779.

My invention relates to the coiling of springs and has for an object toprovide a method of and means for continuously coiling a spring, so thatthe spring will issue from the coiler without rotation.

When a spring is coiled by passing a wire through bending rolls, the sring rotates as it issues from the rolls and if the spring is ofconsiderable length it is apt to kink or twist into a snarl. When aspring is coiled upon arotary mandrel, the length of the spring islimited by the length of the mandrel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of springforming in which the wire is coiled on a mandrel by carrying the wireabout the mandrel and thereby wrapping the wire thereon. At the sametime the coiled wire is fed off the end of the mandrel so that thelength of the coil will not be limited by the length of the mandrel.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for pressing thewire tightly tion will appear in the following description of apreferred embodiment and thereafter the novelty and scope of theinvention will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of my improved springwindingmachine;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a view of a portion of the machine.

in transverse section taken on the of Fig. 1;

Fig.4 is an enlarged view in section of certain driving mechanism, thesection being line 3-3 ta-ken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1

and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.In the particular embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings thebed of the machine comprises a pair of I-beams 10 supported on stands11. At one end of the bed is a pair of brackets, 12 and 13 respectively,in which are roller bearings, 14 and 15 for a hollow shaft 16. Thelatter has a sprocket Wheel 17 fixed thereon by means of which the shaftis rotated, as will be explained hereinafter. Fitted within the "hollowshaft 16 is an inner shaft or spindle 18 and fixed upon one end of thespindle which projects from the outer end of the shaft 16, is a sprocketwheel 19. J ournaled on roller bearings 16a at the inner or opposite endof the shaft 16 is a face plate 20 which forms one end of a cradle 21.The other end of the cradle is keyed to a tubular shaft 22 which isjournaled in roller bearings 23 carried by brackets 24 supported on theLbeams 10. The

shaft 22 has a sprocket wheel 25 keyed there on, by which the cradle 21is rotated. Power to rotate the various parts of the machine isfurnished by a motor 26 which is connected by a chain belt 27 to ajack-shaft 28 through a clutch 28a. A sprocket wheel keyed upon theshaft 28 is connected by a chain belt 29 to the sprocket wheel 25. Theshaft 28 is also connected by gears 30 to a shaft 31 which at its outerend has a sprocket wheel fixed thereon and connected by a chain v32 tothe sprocket wheel 19 of the spindle 18. The spindle is thus driven at afixed speed with respect to the cradle 21 but in opposite direction.

However, the shaft 16 is driven in the same;

direction as the cradle, but at a much lower speed, through mechanism.by which the speed may be accurately regulated. This speed regulatingmechanism may. be of a standard type (such as that shown in Fig, 2),which comprises a driving shaft 33 and a driven shaft 34, each fittedwith a pair of opposed cone pulleys 35 and 36 respectively. A belt 37connects the pulleys on one shaft to the pulleys on the other. Thepulleys are slidable on their shafts and are connected to the oppositeends of a pair of levers 38 in such manner that when one pair of pulleysspect to the other. The position of the levers 38 is controlled by aright and left handed screw 40. It will be understood that I make noclaim to regulating mechanism per se and that I may use any form ofspeed regulator which will give a fine adjustment between the drivingand driven shafts. The shaft 33 is driven by the shaft 31 through asuitable train of gears including a chain belt 42. The shaft 34 has asprocket pinion fixed thereon which is connected by a chain belt 43 tothe sprocket 17 on the shaft 16.

The shaft 16 projects from the face plate 20 into the cradle 21 and hasa pinion 44 keyed thereon (see Figs. 3 and 5) This pinion is engaged onopposite sides by gears 45 and 46 respectively, journaled on studs 47and 48 respectively. These studs are carried by slide blocks 49 and 50respectively, which slide in an undercut slideway 51 runningdiametrically across the face plate 20. The blocks 49 and 50 areadjusted along the slideway toward and from the pinion 44 by means ofadjusting screws 52 and 53 which are journaled in lugs carried by theface plate 20. To avoid friction the gears 45 and 46 are preferablymounted on roller bearings 54 and they are retained on the studs bymeans of thrust ball bearings 55 (see Fig. 5).

As shown in Fig. 4 the spindle 18 is formed with a socket at its innerend in which may be fitted a mandrel 56 about which the spring is to becoiled. The mandrel is held in place by set-screws 56a. Mandrels ofdifferent sizes may be used to provide for variations in diameter of thesprings to be coiled and a bushing 56b for each mandrel serves to centerthe same in the bore of the shaft 16. A thrust plate 560 secured to theend of shaft 16 serves to hold the bushing in place. The mandrel 56projects from the end of the shaft 16, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, andat each side thereof mounted on and secured to the gears 45 and 46respectively, are forming wheels or rolls 57 and 58 respectively. Theforming wheels 57 and 58 are each provided with a stepped peripheralsurface. The outer steps 57a and 58a respectively serve to press thewire against the mandrel 56, while the steps 57?) and 586 respectivelyare of smaller diameter and allow for expansion of the spring under itsown resilience after it leaves the pressing surfaces. Owing to the factthat these rolls are driven by a common pinion 44 they will both turn inthe same direction, or, in other words, the faces of the rollersadjacent the mandrel 56 will turn in opposite directions.

The cradle 21 comprises a pair of longitudinal frame members connectedby struts 59. Mounted between a pair of these struts is a reel 60 fromwhich the supply of wire is taken to form the spring. The reel turns ona hollow shaft 61 comprising two telescoping parts which are normallyspringpressed outward, but which may be telescoped to permit ofinserting the shaft between the struts 59 and then permitting the shaftto expand into suitable journals in said struts. Mounted in a strutbetween the reel 60 and the face plate 20 is a tubular guide 62 which isaligned with the tubular shaft 61 and also with mandrel 56. As clearlyindicated in Fig. 1, there is an open path along the axis of the cradlefrom the mandrel through the guide 62, spindle 61 and shaft 22, to therighthand end of the machine. Mounted on the cradle 21, adjacent thereel 60, is a hinged plate 63 which carries a sheave 64 on a stud 64a.An arm 65 is pivoted on the stud 64a and bears a guide 66. Wire from thereel passes through the guide 66 and about the sheave 64 and then-runsto a second sheave 67 mounted on the cradle 21 near the face plate 20.On the face plate 20 is mounted still another sheave 68 which serves asa guide for the wire, directing it down between the rolls 57 and 58 andto the mandrel 56. Detachably secured to an arm 69 projecting from theface plate 20 on the opposite side of the mandrel from the sheave 68 isa gage finger 70, which projects between the mandrel 56 and the step 576of the roll 57.

The machine is set up for coiling a spring by taking wire from the reel60, passing it through the guide 66 and about the sheaves 64 and 67, andthen guiding it by the sheave 68 to the mandrel 56. Several turns ofwire are taken about the mandrel so as to produce a certain amount oftraction by the mandrel on the wire. The end of the coiled wire or helixprojects far enough to clear the gage finger 70. The machine is nowstarted by throwing in the clutch 28a. As the cradle rotates about themandrel 56 it wraps the wire about said mandrel and the wire bearingagainst the thrust plate 560 forces the coil bodily outward along themandrel. As the cradle revolves, the rollers 57 and 58 which are carriedaround with the cradle, are rotated by engagement of the pinions 45 and46 with the pinion 44, so that they will press the wire against themandrel with a positive rolling action. As the helix is crowded outwardlengthwise of the mandrel it will be continuously passing out ofengagement with the pressing surfaces of the rolls and at the pointwhere the coils clear these surfaces they Will expand due to theresilience of the wire. This expansion would result in a torsionalthrust which would put a twist in the spring in the same direction asthat in which the cradle is revolving, but this twist is overcome byrotating the mandrel in the opposite direction, that is, in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. The r0- tation of themandrel must be such that the rotary advance of the forming portion ofthe spring will equal and counteract the reverse rotation of the formedpart of'the spring,

so that the spring will issue without twist.

This counteracting effect may be regulated by adjusting the speed of therolls 57 and 53 which is effected by means of the screw on the speedregulating mechanism. I find that by this means the coiling mechanismcan be so carefully adjusted that thewspring will issue from the mandrelwithout any twist. If it shows any tendency to twist, the tendency canvery quickly be overcome by a slight turn of the regulating screw40 inone direction or the other.

As the spring coils issue from the pressure steps 570- and 58athcyexpand into the offset space provided by the steps 57?) and 58b, and theindividual coils are spread apart by the gage finger which is forcedbetween adjacent turns of the spring by the surface 57?). Thus, thespring issues from the forming means without twist and with the coilsuniformly spaced by the gage.

There a tendency for the mandrel to wear and for this reason the mandrelis preferably made of considerable length so that it may be withdrawn topresent a new surface between the forming wheels. The sprocket wheel 19is secured to the shaft 18 by means of a set-screw 19a. 'heneverdesired, the shaft 18 may be drawnoutward and the sprocket wheel 19 maythen be adjusted on the shaft and secured at the new adjustment by meansof the set-screw 19a, thus withdrawing the mandrel into the hollow shaft16 and presenting a fresh surface on which the spring is coiled. It willbe understood that the spring asit is coiled on the. mandrel 56 tends topull the mandrel forward. that is toward, the right as viewed in Fig. land it is not necessary to provide any means for preventing the shaft 18from moving in the opposite direction.

'The spring as it issues from the mandrel will be fed through the guide62. hollow stem 61 and hollow shaft 22 to the right-hand end of themachine, asshown in Fig. 1. Here the coil spring passes between a pairof rollers 72 and T3 and will operate a counter 74 which measures thelength of the springformed. The spring then runs over a chute 75 andinto a suitable receptacle 76.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is: V I 1. The method of forming a coil springwhich includes the steps of wrapping a wire in a helix about a mandrel,simultaneously feeding the helix ofl one end of the mandrel,

and compensating for torsion of the helix due to expansion of the coilsthereof so that the helix will issue from the mandrel without rotationin space.

2. The method of forming a coil spring which includes the steps ofwrapping a wire in a helix about a mandrel, simultaneously feeding thehelix off one end of the mandrel, and turning the helix to compensatefor torsion of the helix due to expansion of the coils thereof so thatthe helix will issue from the mandrel without rotation in space.

3. Thejmethod of forming a coil spring which includes the steps ofwrapping a wire in a helix about a mandrel, exerting pressure on thehelix at the forming end thereof to press the wire against the mandrel,effecting relative movement between the helix and the zone ofapplication of said pressure in the direction of the axis of the helix,and turning the portion of the helix in said zone to compensate fortorsion due to expansion of the coils of the helix as they clear saidzone.

4. The method of forming a coil spring which includes the steps ofwrapping a wire in a helix about a mandrel, feeding the helixlongitudinally with respect to the mandrel,

exerting a radial pressure on the helix at the forming end thereof topress the wire against the mandrel, and turning that portion of thehelix within the zone of said pressure at such rate and in suchdirection as to compensate for the torsion'due to expansion of the.coils of the helix as they clear said zone.

5. The method of forming a coil spring which includes the steps ofwrapping a wire in a helix about a mandrel, feeding the helixlongitudinally with respect to the mandrel, exerting rolling radialpressure on the helix at the forming end thereof, and turning themandrel at such rate and in such direction as to compensate for torsionof the helix as it clears the zone of said pressure. 7

6. The method of forming a coil spring which includes the steps ofwrapping a wire in a helix about a mandrel, feeding the helixlongitudinally with respect to the mandrel, exerting rolling radialpressure on the helix at the forming end thereof, and revolving thepoint of application of said pressure with respect to the mandrel tocompensate for torsion of the helix as it clears the zoneof saidpressure.

7. The method of forming a a coil spring which includes the steps ofwrapping a wire in a helix about a mandrel, feeding thehelixlongitudinally with respect to the mandrel, exerting rolling radialpressure on the helix at the forming end thereof, revolving the point ofapplication of said pressure with respect to the mandrel, and varyingsuch rela-' tive revolution of the point of application of the pressureto compensate for torsion of the helix as it clears the zone of saidpressure.

8. The method of forming a coil spring which includes the steps ofwrapping a. wire in a close-coiled helix about amandrel, exertingpressure on the helix at the forming end thereof to press the wireagainst the mandrel,

eifecting relative movement between the helix and 'thezone ofapplication of said pressure in the direction of the axis of thehelix,turnmg the portion of the hehxm said zone to compensate fortorsion due to expansion of the coils of the helix as they clear saidzone, and spreading coils as they clear said zone to form a helix ofpredetermined pitch.

9. The method of forming a coil spring which includes the steps ofwrapping a wire in a close-coiled helix about a mandrel, feeding thehelix longitudinally with respect to the mandrel, exerting a radialpressure on the helix at the forming end thereof to press the wireagainst the mandrel, turning that portion of the helix within the zoneof said pressure at such rate and in such direction as to compensate forthe torsion due to expansion of the coils of the helix as they clearsaid zone, and spreading coils as they clear said zone to form a helixof predetermined pitch.

10. The method of forming a coil spring on a mandrel which comprises thesteps of winding a wire about the mandrel to form a helix, providing anabutment against which the forming end of the helix will hear so as tocrowd the helix lengthwise of the mandrel as the helix is wound,inserting a spreader between the coils of the helix, and revolving thespreader in afixed plane about the mandrel to spread the coils of thehelix to a predetermined pitch.

11. In a machine for coiling springs, a

mandrel, a wire guide revoluble around the mandrel to wind wire in aclose-coiled helix thereon, a thrust member against which the wire bearsas it is led on to the mandrel whereby the helix will be fedlongitudinally along the mandrel, and a gage finger revoluble in a fixedplane about the mandrel to spread the coils of the helix to apredetermined pitch.

12. In a machine for coiling springs, a mandrel about which a wire is tobecoiled, a thrust plate through which one end of the mandrel passes,the other end of the mandrel being free, a wire guide revoluble aroundthe mandrel to wind a wire thereabout and in engagement with the thrustplate, whereby the wound wire on the mandrel will be crowded along themandrel and off the free end thereof, and means for adjusting themandrel lengthwise with respect to the thrust plate. I

13. In a machine for coiling springs, a

mandrel, a wire guide revoluble around the mandrel to Wind wire in ahelix thereon, and means for compensating for torsion of the helix dueto expansion of the coils thereof so that the helix will have norotation in space.

14. In a machine for coiling springs, a

mandrel, a wire guide rev oluble around the mandrel to wind wire in ahelix thereon, a thrust member against which the Wire bears as it is ledon to the mandrel, whereby the drel without rotation in space.

15. In a machine for coiling springs, a

mandrel, means for winding a wire in a helix on the mandrel, a thrustmember on the mandrel against which the wire bears as it is wound on'the mandrel, whereby the helix is crowded lengthwise of the mandrel asit is wound, means adjacent the thrust member for pressing coils of thehelix against the mandrel, and means compensating the torsion of saidcoils due to expansion thereof as they clear the pressing means wherebythe helix will have no rotation in space.

16. In a machine for coiling springs, a mandrel means for winding a wirein a helix on the mandrel, a thrust member on the mandrel against whichthe wire bears as it is wound on the mandrel whereby the helix will becrowded lengthwise of the mandrel as it is formed, a roller pressing thehelix against the mandrel near the forming end of the helix, and meansfor rotating that part of the helix that is under pressure at such rateas to compensate for expansion thereof at the point where it issues fromthe roller so that the issued part of the helix will have no rotation inspace.

17. In a machine for coiling springs, a mandrel means for winding a wirein a helix on the mandrel, a thrust member on the mandrel against whichthe wire bears as it is wound on the mandrel, whereby the helix will becrowded lengthwise of the mandrel as it is formed, aroller pressing thehelix against the mandrel near the forming end of the helix, means forrevolving the roller about the mandrel, means for rotating the roller onits axis, means for rotating the mandrel, and means for regulating therelative rotation of the roller and the mandrel to compensate forexpansion of the helix where it clears the roller so that there shall beno torsion in space of that part ofthe helix which has cleared theroller. 7

18. In a machine for coiling springs, a

mandrel means for winding a wire in a helix its axis, means for rotatingthe mandrel and means for regulating the rotation of the roller tocompensate for expansion of the helix where it clears the roller so thatthere shall be no torsion in space of that part of the helix which hascleared the roller.

19. In a machine for coiling springs, a manwound in a helix about themandrel, a thrust plate against which the wire bears as it is led uponthe mandrel whereby the helix will be fed longitudinally of the mandrel,rollers carried by the cradle and bearing against the w helix to pressthe wire against the mandrel,

means for rotating the rollers, means for rotating the mandrel, andmeans for regulating the relative rotary speed of the mandrel and therollers.

20. In a machine for coiling springs, a mandrel about which a wire is tobe coiled, a thrust plate atone end of the mandrel against which thewire bears as it is wound on the mandrel, a cradle revoluble about themandrel and adapted to carry a reel of wire, a guide on the cradleadapted to guide wirefrom the reel to the mandrel and wrap the wirethereabout in a close-coiled helix, and a gage finger revoluble with thecradle and adapted to project between the coils of the helix to spreadthe same to a predetermined pitch.

21. In a machine for coiling springs, a mandrel, a cradle revolubleabout the mandrel and ,adapted to carry a reel of wire, a wire guide 0on the cradle adapted to guide wire from the reel to the mandrel wherebythe wire will be wound in a helix on the mandrel, a thrust plate againstwhich the wire bears as it is wound on the mandrel whereby the helixwill be fed longitudinally of the mandrel, and

rollers carried by the cradle and bearing against the helix to press thewire against the 'mandrel.

In a machine forcoilingsprings, a mandrel, a cradle revoluble about themandrel and adapted to carry a reel of wire. a wire guide on the cradleadapted to guide wire from the reel to the mandrel whereby the wire willbe wound in a helix on the mandrel a thrust plate against which the wirebears as it is led upon the mandrel whereby the helix will be fedlongitudinally of the mandrel, a roller carried by the cradle andpressing the helix against the mandrel, and means for rotating theroller as it revolves about the mandrel.

23. In a machine for coiling springs. a mandrel, a cradle revolubleabout the mandrel and adapted to carry a reel of wire, a wire guide onthe cradle adapted to guide wire from the reel to the mandrel wherebythe wire will be wound in a helix on the mandrel, a thrust plate againstwhich the wire bears as it is led upon the mandrel whereby the helixwill be fed longitudinally of the mandrel, a roller carried by thecradle and pressing the helix against the mandrel, means for rotatingthe roller as it revolves about the mandrel, and means for regulatingthe rotary speed of the roller.

2t In a machine for coiling springs, a mandrel, a cradle revoluble aboutthe mandrel and adapted/to carry a reel of wire, a wire guide on thecradle adapted to guide wire from the reel to the mandrel whereby thewire will be wound in a helix on the mandrel, a thrust plate againstwhich the wire bears as it is led upon the mandrel whereby the helixwill be fed longitudinally of the mandrel, rollers carried by the cradleand bearing against the helix to press the wire against the mandrel,

means for rotating the rollers, and means for rotating the mandrel.

25. In a machine for coiling springs, a mandrel. a cradle revolubleabout the mandrel and adapted to carry a reel of wire, a wire guide onthe cradle adapted to guide wire from'the reel to the mandrel wherebythe wire will be wound in a close-coiled helix about the mandrel, athrust plate against which the wire bears as wound on the mandrelwhereby the helix will be'fed longitudinally of the mandrel, rollerscarried by the cradle and bearing against the helix to press the wireagainst the mandrel, means for rotating the rollers, means for adjustingthe relative rotation of the rollers and the mandrel, a gage fingercarried by the cradle, and means for forcing the same between the coilsof the helix.

26. In a machine for coiling springs, a mandrel, a cradle revolubleabout the mandrel and adapted to carry a reel of wire, a wire guide onthe cradle adapted to guide wire from the reel to the mandrel wherebythe wire-will be wound in a close coiled helix about the mandrel, athrust plate against which the wire bears as wound on the mandrelwhereby the helix will be fed longitudinally of the mandrel, rollerscarried by the cradle and bearing against the helix to press the wireagainst the mandrel, means for rotating the rollers,'means for adjustingthe-relative rotation of the rollers andthe mandrel, a gage fingercarried by the cradle, and means on one of the rollers for forcing thesame between the coils of the helix.

2?. In a machine for coiling springs, a mandrel, a cradle co-axial withthe mandrel,

means for supporting a reel of wire on the cradle, a driver pinionconcentric with the mandrel, planetary pinions mounted on the cradle andmeshing with the driver, means for rotating the cradle to wind the wirein a helix about the mandrel, rollers carried by the planetary pinionsand adapted to press the helix against the mandrel, and means forrotating the driver to cause positive rolling the planetary pinions andadapted to press the helix against the mandrel, means for rotating thedriver to cause positive rolling action of the rollers on the helix, andmeans for forcing the helix lengthwise of the mandrel under the rollers.

29. In a machine for coiling springs, a mandrel, a cradle co-axial withthe mandrel, meansfor supporting a reel of wire on the 10 cradle, adriver pinion concentric withthe mandrel, planetary pinions mounted onthe cradle and meshing with the driver, means for rotating the cradle towind the wire in a helix about the mandrel, rollers carried by theplanetary pinions and adapted to press the helix against the mandrel,means for retating the driver to cause positive rolling action of therollers on the helix, means for forcing the helix lengthwise of themandrel under the rollers, means for rotating the mandrel, and variablespeed gear for regulating the rotary speed of the driver.

30. In a machine for coiling springs, a mandrel, acradle co-axial withthe mandrel,

2 means for supporting a reel of wire on the cradle, a. driver pinionconcentric with the mandrel, planetary pinions mounted on the cradle andmeshing with the driver, means for rotating the cardle to wind the wirein a 80 helix about the mandrel, rollers carried by the planetarypinionsand adapted to press the helix against the mandrel, means for rotatingthe driver to cause positive rolling action of the rollers on the helix,means for forcing the helix lengthwise of the mandrel, means forrotating the mandrel, a variable speed gear for regulating the relativerotary speed of the mandrel and the rollers, and means for adjusting theposition of the mandrel axially.

31. In a machine for coiling springs, a wire coiling means through whichwire is passed to form a continuous helix, and means for turning thehelix within the coiling means to compensate for torsion of the helixoutside the coiling means due to expansion of the coils of the helix asthey clear the coiling means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

60 GORMAN C. BURD.

